Case studies
The principal goes on tour – Balwyn High School
Bernadette Clayton is apologetic that the other teachers from the music learning program can’t talk right now. They are getting ready to go on a European tour with the school choir and jazz combo. Everyone is busy preparing – even the school’s principal, Deborah Harman.
When quizzed about whether it is unusual for the principal to go on tour with the students, Bernadette doesn’t hesitate.
She comes to everything – every music concert. In fact, our principal comes to 100 per cent of all music events, whether they are public concerts or not. We have a principal who has a strong belief in music education in public schools.
The music learning program at Balwyn High School wasn’t initiated under Deborah Harman’s leadership. It started many years earlier with an equally committed and visionary principal, Gil Newitt. He realised the importance of music and pushed it within the region and the area, gradually building the program up. It has had strong support from every principal since. Bernadette is at pains to emphasise the support, commitment and dedication of all the music staff, who work with the students to achieve the highest standards.
A couple of years ago, a case for further staffing for music was presented and the request met. The school prioritised seeking funding for music facilities and in the year 2000 built a dedicated music centre with rehearsal spaces, a suite of instrumental rooms and music technology labs.
Balwyn High School isn’t afraid to think outside the box in seeking to support their music learning program, either. An innovative partnership with Yamaha sees the company sponsor keyboards for the technology lab and other instruments. In exchange, Yamaha runs a specialised instrumental and ensemble program from the school – gaining access to facilities for teaching on a weekend and during times the rooms would otherwise be unused. This further affirms the calibre of the school’s music learning program that ‘doesn’t shut down at four o’clock’. Yamaha values being connected to Balwyn High because as the younger students develop, Yamaha gets to see the results borne out in performance through the many ensembles and choirs available to students. It is clearly a win–win situation.
What makes the biggest difference to the music program at Balwyn High? Bernadette Clayton credits, among other reasons, the commitment of the principal. They have weekly meetings about the music learning program. The principal constantly encourages the students, talking to them about their music learning and performances. Professional learning for teachers in delivering learning opportunities based on the Kodály method is a priority, giving teachers a depth of knowledge and skills that allows them to really lead.
We like that it is very grounded. Students have to learn, listen and sing. Singing is a big thing for us here and it transfers to instrumental skills. All of our Year 7 teachers have done the Kodály course that runs for about five or six weeks – not just the specialist music teachers.
How does this support translate into results? Just look at the alumni of music students at Balwyn High.
It’s not just The Cat Empire and violinist Cameron Hill but in 2014, Sarah McKenzie came third in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in New York. Every year we have an alumni orchestra that comes back to play for our events. Our music students are passionate and keen to always strive to do their very best, whether it be in the training/beginner ensembles or the senior groups. There is certainly a culture at Balwyn High School that it is cool to achieve and do your best.
You could ask the principal what she thinks of the alumni orchestra, but the likelihood might be that she’s too busy packing to go on tour.
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